Drop-bottom dump-car.



H. G. BRUNKER.

DROP BOTTOM DUMP CAR.

APPLICATION FILED Arx. 17. 1909'.

` Patented. sept.. 14.1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. H. C. BRUNKER.

DROP BOTTOM DUMP GAR. APPLICATION FILED APB. 17, 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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QN! NN H. C. BRUNKBR.

DROP BOTTOM DUMP CAR.

` APPtIoATIoN :Plumv un. 1v. 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

t jizz/anion Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

H. 0.!BRUNKER.

DROP BOTTOM DUMP GAR.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED APB. 17. 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEETA 4.

Inver?/%r UNITED STATES HARRY C. BRUNKEB., OF MIDDLEPOBT, OHIO.

DROP-BOTTOM DUMP-CAR.

To all whom Lt may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. BRUNKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middleport, in the county of Meigs `and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drop-Bottom Dump-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inA drop bottom dump cars and it has more particular reference to a dump car of that type in which hinged {ioor sections are provided which are-operated to discharge the load and which are then returned to normal position.

In connection with a car structure of the above general type, the invention has as a primary object the provision of a sectional dumping oor of novel organization to serve `the ulti-mate purpose of quickness .and certainty in action. The loor structure is normally locked against collapsing but when it is released, the sections thereof are moved by the weight ofthe load to discharge the same, after which' operation said sect-ions return automatically-to their normal positions.

The invention aims as a further object to provide a novel combined locking and actuating device by means of which the parts are positively locked against movement from their normal positions. The said device may also be actuated to cause a positive movement of the iioor sections in either direction.

The invention aims as a further object to provide novel means for simultaneously operatin'g the opposed floor sections and such means in accordance with its relation to the locking device may be either passive, that is, independent of the locking device and permitting of the automatic operation of the kloor sections, or active, that is operatively depending on the locking `device and'not permitting but rather causing the operatio-n of the ioor sections. Y

The. invention aims as a further object lto provide such an organization of elements that the car may have in effect two floors, one at each end thereof, in order that one iioor may be discharging while the otherA is receiving a load or in order that loads of di'l'l'erent materials may be carried separatcly in the 'same car and separately dischargedv bythe automatic mechanisms. i'

The invention aims. as a .further object to provide a car having .means controlled by Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented sept.. 14, 1909.

Application led April 17, 1909i Serial N0.'A490,474.

the iioor sections for causing an opening movement of hinged side wall panels in order that the size of the discharge opening may be increased. y ,I have illustrated preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention in thc accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an end' ing in detail the combined locking and actuating device to which reference has been made. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viewv showing the floor sections. in theirnormal l position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the floor sections in their discharging position. ,Fig 4c is a plan View showing a series o1' g sections at one side of the floor. Fig. 5 is -5-5 of Fig. 4'.' Fig. 6 is a'detail perspective view of the skeletonoor frame with relation to which the sections forming `the floor proper are 1 tail perspective view showing t e beams to jwhich the Hoor sections are pivoted. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the floor sections, rthe others being similar in construction. Fig. 9 is an edge elevation Hoor sections and the intermediateI beams. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modified or alternative arrangement which, however, embodies the basic principles of construction and operation of the arrangementshown in Fig. 2. The floor-sections are shown in their normal po- *sitibns in this figure. Fig. 11 is a similar View, showing the floor sections in their discharging positions, and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of supplementary floor sections embodied inthel modified arrangement.

Similar characters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 6 the frame of the car is' illustrated' in detail as comprising longitudinal center sills 1, which are preferably of chanlnel bar shape and which are connected by transverse brace bars, as 2, of any Asuitable cross sectional shape. The sills 1 may be inasmuch as this reinforcement is well illustration would detract from the clearness of the several figures, l same. At the ends of the sills 1 transverse elevation of a car showshowing the relation of a pair of adjacent' .7, assembled. Fi 7 is a'de- 1a longitudinal sectional view on the line also reinforced bydiagonal bracebars but, 1

known in the art of gondola cars and its Iliave not shown the -1 end plates, as 3, are provided which project at each side of the sills and above the same and terminate at their. upper edges in inwardly extending flanges, as 4. The plates 3 are provided with central openings, as 5, through which the coupling bar of the draft rigging projects. The coupling bar and tli'e other parts of the draft rigging are assembled between the sills 1 but inasmuch as this mechanism is not relevant to the present invention, illustration thereof has not been deemed necessary. Each sill 1 supports ia series of pa-rallel cross beams, as 6,V which are shownin detail in Figs. 6 and 7. Each pair of opposed beanis 6 are in alinement but are spaced from one another, affording a clearance 7. The beams 6 are of peculiar construction, the portions thereof on the inner sides of the sills 1 being of inverted'T shape and the portions thereof on the outer sides of said sills being of normal T shape. The said inner portions are constructed' with lower flanges, as 8, for attachment to the sills 1 and bars 2 and the outer portions are constructed with upper flanges, as 9, at each side thereof, for a purpose to be described. For the sake of clearness of illustration, the beams 6 directly adjacent the plate 3, have not been shown in Fig. 6.

It has been stated that the car may have in effect two floor structures, one at each lend thereof, and with this statement in mind it will be understood thatFigs. 4, 5 and 6 show the structural elements which are `at one end of the car and that a similar scheme of organization is carried out at the other end of the car. Between each pair 'of corresponding series of beams 6, a continuous .transverse beam, as 10, is interposed, having end portions of normalT shape in cross section and 4havingnm'intermediate portion between the sills l, of I shape in crossvsec" tion. The upper faces of the -beams G a-nd 10 and the flange 4t are in the same plane and these several elements have the same function.

lheiloor sections are designated by the numeral 11. llach section 11 comprises a Hat metallic plate to the under face of which a pair of parallel transverse supporting arms, as 12, are secured. The clearances 7 provide for the assemblage of averliically movable longitudinal operating bar, as 13, which is fof normal T shape ijn cross section and is 4provided at suitable intervals with webs 14,

at each side thereof. T he arms l2 are formed at their inner ends with slots 15 and are piv- 'otally comica-,ted to the several webs 14 by pins, as 1G, which project through the slots l5. The inner end portions of the plates ll project under' the side flanges of the bar 1:-,

and are provided with transverse edge slots.

as 17, to laccomiiiodate the webs 1.4. The arms l2 are also pivot'ed lo the vertical webs ment of the' sections 11 in returning to their '10 normal positions and lit into dished edge portions 19 which vare formed at the sides of the sections 11 in tlie`manner shown in Fig. 8. The side edges of the dished por tions 19 are located slightly inwardly of the 75 side edges of the inner portions ofthe plates 11, to provide clearances vbetween the adja` cent sections through which the webs of the beams 6 extend. The side edge portions of the plates 11 inwardly of the dished por- 80 tions 19 extend over the upper edges of the webs of the beams 6 and are flush with the flanges 9, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 9.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be understood that when parts to be later de scribedare manipulated, the floor sections are released and, owing to the greater length of the outwardly projecting portion of each floor section, the weight of `the load will cause a downward movement thereof, the

inner end portions of said sections lifting the' bar 13. The sections are now in position vto discharge the load at each side of the car and when this has taken place, the bar 13 descends by gravity and restores the sections totheir normal positions, it `being under xstood that said bar is sufficiently heavy for this purpose. v

The means for locking the floor sections normally against discharging movement is closely related to the means for .positively operating the floor sections in either of their increments, and which it may be necessary to employ under `certain conditions.v Such operating means will now be described. The

bar 13 is provided at suitable intervals with depending rack Ibars,'as 20, which work vertically in suitable guide or channel members, as 21, Vwhich, are, for convenience, shown as secured to the adjacent beams 2 but which 110 may be disposedand suitably supported at any desired points between the beams 2.` Extending longitudinally of the car frame.l for any desired 0r necessary length and supported in the b arsv 2 is a shaft, as 22,. which 115 carries pinions, as 23, to engage with the rack bars 20. The'shaft 22 projects at one end of the car, through the plate 3, as shown in Figs-1 and 5. Loosely mounted upon the projecting end of the shaft 22, is a lever 24, 120.

having its lower end in the form of a yoke within which is arranged a toothed wheel 25, the latter being fast on the shaft 22. A second lever, as 26, is pivoted neaigits lower end, as at 27, on the lever-' 24, and"has its 125 lower end provided with teeth, as 28, for engagement with the wheel 25. The lever 24 is normally held against movement by a keeper, as 29, which is pivoted on the car and of the beams 6,*as by pins 18, which are po` l lits over the upper end of the lever 24, and 1.39

the lever 26 is similarly held against move-.

ment with relation to the lever 24 by a keeper, as 30, which is pivoted on the latter. The -lever 26 is normally retained by the keeper 30 with its teeth 28 in engagement with the wheel 25. The latter is thereby locked and it follows that the `shaft 22, pinions 23, rack bars 20, bar 13 and floor sections 11 are locked. To release this train of mechanism,

the keeper 30 is disengaged from the lever 26 and the latter is then moved onv its pivot 27 to disengage the wheel 25. When such action happens, the operation of the parts men-` tioned takes place automatically, by the weight of the load in discharging and by the weight of the plates f 1 1, in returning to normal.

In case it should be necessary to positively loperate the mechanical train 'to cause resultant movementof the plates 11 in either direction, the lever 26 is employed as an operative connection between the lever 24 and the wheel 25, the levers 24 and 26 heilig locked against relative movement by the keeper 30. The lever 24, however, is manually operated in thedirection desired, the keeper 29 having been disengaged therefrom. This manual operation of the lever 24 positively operates the floor sections through the medium of the train of elements described.

Each rack bar 2O is provided at its lower end with a stop disk, as 20a, which engages a plate or bar 20h supported between the sills l and thereby serves to limit the upward movement of the bar 13 and therewith the downward movements of the sections 11. It has been stated that the sides of the car were provided with panels which automatically opened upon the discharging lnovement of the floor sections. Such panels are indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 by the numeral 31 and extend longitudinally of the car, being hinged at their upper edges, as at 32. The pressure of the load causes the panels to open outwardly in order to increase the etlicient size of the discharge opening occuring between the sides of the car and the tilting floor sections. The panels 31 are normally kept closed by v.positive means, which, when the sections 11 are operated, permits of the opening of the panels by the pressure of the load. The lower straps of the hinges 32 depend somewhat below the panels and are connected to a chain or wire, as 33, which passes through a suitable guide, as 34, on the adjacent beam, and over ay roller, as which is secured at the end of one of the flanges A8, the latter being cut away for some distance from the inner end of the beam 6. The inner ends ofthe chains or other flexible connections 33 are connected to the lower end of the bars 20 and when the latter move downwardly, the chains are taken in and the panelsf-ll close by gravity and may not bc moved from their closed positions. When the bar 20 moves upwardly the chains 33 are let out, thereby permitting the opening Aof the panels in the manner stated.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, a modiiied or alternative arrangement preserving the basic principles of construction and operation above outlined, has been illustrated. Under certain circumstances lor conditions, it is of advantage that there be no central resistance which would retard the downward movements of the sections under the influence of the portions of the load resting thereon at the outer sides of their pivots. In this modified embodiment, means are provided whereby the weight of the load at the center of the car does not affect or minimize the weight of the loads bearing upon the outer end portions of the sections in causing an opening thereof and whereby the sections have a certain initial momentum 4acquiring movement prior to the raising of the eentral portion of the lloor. By virtue of this 4initial movement, the central portion of the floor may be readily raised at the proper time because a great portion of the load is Laken ott of thev said central portion at the time it is raised and also because of the momentum incident to the initial acceleration of the floor sections. Certain of the l parts shown in Figs. 10 and 11 correspond exactly to certain of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and similar reference numerals are employed to designate the same. Higher reference numerals are employed 'to designate modified and added parts. The discharging lfloor sections are indicated by the numeral 41 and are each carried upon a pair of levers 43. The latter are pivoted to the beamsl 6 and have downwardly inclined portions 44 inwardly of their pivots. A central longitudinal 'operating bar, as 45, is

employed. This bar is similar to the bar 13.

suitably formed openings in the bar 45. In

the normal positions of the parts, the outerL edge portions of the sections 46 rest upon the inner edge portions of thc sections 41 and the inner edge portion of one section 46 overlies the inner edge portion of the other section. The floor is thus uninterrupted. The bar 45 is operated in the same manner as the bar 13. lVhcn the operating mechanism is unlocked, in the manner described, the sections 4l; have an initial discharging movementwhich is relative to the sections 46, the latter remaining stationary. Thus, all the force of the'load is spent in llowering the sections 41 and the outer portions of the load are not required to raise the central portion thereof, during. such initial movement'. As the downward movement of the sections 4l continues, the bar 45 ultimately engages the rod 4S, raisingl the latter and causing the sections 46 to swing upwardly from their outer edges and to conjointly have an inverted V-shaped .cross section. This movement of the sections- 46 is readily accomplished with biitsllight expenditure of power, since the' greater portion of the load has been taken therefrom during the initial movement of the sections 4l and since the latter cause 'the bar 45 to have a certa-in degree of initial accelerated nmmentuin-acquiring movement, by reason of which the bar 45 strikes the rod 48 with a material degree of force. The pivotal movements ofthe sections 46 are in the direction of least resistance and this is also a material factor in contributing to the ready and easy operation of said sections. Furthermore, the central portion of the ioorbeing of inverted-'V' shapein 'discharging forms in effect an apex portion and the sections 46 are'inclined continuations of the sections 41; Inthis manner the division and discharge of the -load is quick-` ened and rendered more complete and certain. i Having fully described my invention, AI claim:

l. In a drop bottom dump car, in combination, a frame, pivoted floor sections at each side thereof, a pair of arms secured to each ioor section and an operating element coininoii to a pair of opposed sections and comprising a longitudinally extending'. vertically movable bar pivoted tothe arms at each side thereof'. 4

2. In a dropbottoin dump car, in combination, a iaine, movable iioor sections at each side thereof, an operating element common to a pair of opposed sections and connected to each section of the pair, means operable to positively move the operatingr clement and including a shaft having a toothed wheel, a pivoted lever inovableiiiidependently of the shaft, a second lever pivoted on the first lever and. having teeth for engagement with said wheel and a keeper to hold said levers against relative movement.

3. In a drop bottoni dump car, in combination, a frame, pivoted lIioor sections at each side thereof, a pair of arms securedto each floor section, an opera-ting element common to a pair of opposed sections and comprising a longitudinally extending` vertically movable -bar p'ivoted to thel arms at each side thereof, and operating means for the element comprising a longitudinal shaft supported by the frame and having pinions and rack bars depending from the operating element and in mesh with the pinions.

4. In a drop bottom dump car, -in combination, a frame, a plurality of transverse beams supported in 'series at each side of the frame, the beams of one-series beingl spaced from the beams otl the opposite, series, each beam having an inner portion of inverted T shape and an outer portion of normal T shape, floor sections, means for supporting each fioor section pivotally between a pair of adjacent beams, a centrally located longitudinal bar, and means pivbtally connecting the bar and the floor sections on each side thereof. I

5. In a drop bottom dump car, in combination, two oppositely. located pivoted Hoor sections, an operating element centrally disposed and pivotally connected to each of the inner end portions of said sections, hinged side wall panels and chains connecting the Side wall panels and the operating element.

6. In a drop bottom dump car, in combination., two longitudinally disposed series of downwardly swinging floor sections, an. intermediate relatively stationary floor portion between the series and means structurally independent of the sections for raising the intermediate floor portion subsequent to the inception of the movement ofthe sections. l

7. In a drop bottom dump car, in combination, two longitudinally disposed series of downwardly swinging floor sections,` an' intermediate relatively stationary floor portion between the series and comprising. pivotally connected longitudinally disposed. sections and means for raising the "nner portions of the pivotally connected sections subsequent kto the inception of the movement of the first named sections.

8. In a drop bottom dump car,'in combination, two longitudinally disposed series of downwardly swinging liooi sections, anoperating element operatively connected to the sections. and an intermediate relatively sta- ,tionaryfloorportion between the sei-ies which is engaged by the operating element and 'raised thereby subsequent to the inception ofthe movement of the sections.

tion, two longitudinally disposed series of' downwardly swinging flooisections, an o3- ei'ating element operatively connected to the sections, and an intermediate.l relatively stationary floor portion disposed between the series and comprising two longitudiuallydisposed floor-sections and pivotal connecting means therefor which is arranged to be cngaged by the operating eleinent and to be moved upwardly thereby subseipicnt to the inception of the movement of thrftloor set-'-v tions.

10. l'n a drop bottom dump car, iu coinbination, a iloor comprising a dmi'nwardlv 9. In a drop bottom duin p car, in combinaswinging section, a relatively stationary floor portion at the inner side of the pivot of the section and means structurally independent of the section for raising,v the floor portion subsequent to the inception of the movement of the section.

l1. In a drop bottom dump car, in oombination7 a downwardly swinging Hoor section, an operating element connected thereto, and an upwardly movable floor section located at the inner side of the downwardly 'swinging section and operated in its upward movement by the' operating element.

12. In a drop bottom dump car, in com l bination, a frame, a plurality of transverse beams supported thereby and each having a portion of inverted T shape and a portion of normal T shape, Hoor sections, means for pivotally supporting the floor sections with portions thereof lying over the Webs of the inverted T-shaped portions and with p0rtions thereof lying under theflanges of the normal T-shaped portions and means for hold-ing the floor sections normally against discharging movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit-- nesses.

HARRY C. 'BRUNKER Witnesses WADE F. OsBoRNE, l CLARENCE J. SGHEERER. 

